Abstract

Background: Exercise is a key component in treating childhood obesity. Group exercise sessions with a trained instructor are ideal, but most treatment programs cannot offer these often enough to meet physical activity guidelines. At-home options that provide a similar-intensity workout are needed. Objective: To determine if exercise videos are a feasible at-home option for obese youth to meet recommended physical activity guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous exercise. Methods: Obese youth attended a summer camp focused on weight management. Subjects wore accelerometers to assess physical activity levels at camp. During camp, all subjects completed four exercise activities: three separate exercise sessions led by exercise physiologists (EP), as well as an exercise video (EV). Each exercise session utilized a different format: high intensity interval training (HIIT), group games (GG) and yoga. The EV, created by the same EP, included aerobic exercise and yoga. Data was analyzed to determine intensity associated with each exercise session. Results: Data was obtained from 16 (50%) accelerometers (9 girls, 7 boys). There was no difference in sedentary (SED) minutes per hour between activities. HIIT and GG had more moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than yoga (p<0.0001 and p=0.01) and EV (p<0.0001 and p=0.01). There was no difference in MVPA between HIIT and GG. Conclusions: Obese children exercised at higher intensities during instructor-led HIIT and GG exercise sessions than yoga or EV sessions.

Tuominen, P.P.A., Husu, P., Raitanen, J., Kujala, U.M., & Luoto, R.M. (2017). The effect of a movement-to-music video program on the objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity of preschool-aged children and their mothers: a randomized controlled trial. PLOS One, 12(8), e0183317. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183317.

Tuominen, P.P.A., Husu, P., Raitanen, J., & Luoto, R.M. (2016). Differences in sedentary time and physical activity among mothers and children using a movement-to-music video program in the home environment: a pilot study.

SpringerPlus, 5(93). doi: 10.1186/s40064-016-1701-z.

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